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#SergioGarciaJr wins Open Tournament of the Year

The Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf, hosted by The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas, was named the AJGA’s 2018 Open Tournament of the Year.
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The Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf, hosted by The University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas, was named the AJGA’s 2018 Open Tournament of the Year.

Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are also given to the events with engaged media and social media participation. Finally, the AJGA recognizes contributions from some of the year’s most outstanding people (golf professional, superintendent and general manager), as well as events (most improved, new, Junior Golf Hub Preview Series, AJGA Junior All-Star Series, Invitational and Open Tournaments of the Year). Most awards will be presented on-site at 2019 tournaments.

First conceived in 2016, the Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf moved to The University of Texas Golf Club in 2018. The move, made in part because of the Garcia’s ties to the Austin area, also added support from Tournament Chairman Trudi Dossey and an energized committee focused on event experience.

“We are so incredibly honored to win,” said Dossey, also a parent to three boys who’ve played in AJGA events. “Our goal from day one was to put on an Open event that felt like an Invitational. We wanted the players and families to have an incredible experience while at the same time making the AJGA staff feel at home. We want everyone to look forward to coming back to UT Golf Club. Angela and Sergio have been amazing to work with as they have shared the same vision of excellence.”

In 2018, every player had a name plate on the driving range, was given the opportunity to play in the Callaway Par 3 Shootout on UT’s course, and received additional gifts from Sergio’s partners Callaway and adidas. Parents and players were also treated to complimentary meals during the 54-hole event and the Callaway Golf Tour truck was on-site demoing product. AJGA staff was housed within five minutes of the course, provided local, authentic meals and courtesy cars donated from the Covert Family. In addition, 75 volunteers made the event run smoothly, including AJGA alum and Jerry Cole Sportsmanship Award winner Tobin Niblett who returned home from college to help during the weekend.

Callaway became the event’s presenting sponsor in 2018, and in addition to the support from Sergio and Angela Garcia, helped to take the tournament to new heights. Players, families and Junior-Am sponsors were able to learn from a PGA TOUR professional during a special clinic. Garcia, an AJGA champion and Rolex Junior All-American himself, supported the event just one day after the couple’s first daughter Azalea was born.

“Angela and I are so proud and honored to have our tournament voted as the AJGA Open Tournament of the Year,” said Sergio Garcia. “We would like to thank and congratulate everyone who makes our tournament happen. We would also like to thank our players and their families. We look forward to growing our tournament and junior golf year after year.”

Giving back has been a cornerstone of the Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf since its inception. In three years, nearly $90,000 has been given back to local charities and the AJGA’s Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant financial assistance program.

The AJGA returned to Austin, Texas, for the fourth year of the Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship presented by Callaway Golf March 21-24 at The University of Texas Golf Club.